CAA Meetings - Who Stays, Who Goes......

[Tribe4SF]

Don't mean to take this off topic, but looks like an all-sports CAA move is more likely in our future.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/0 ... ndary.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As your school backpedals from the FBS talk, CAA members may be more likely to consider UNCC. A good addition to the conference if the commitment is there.

[State Line Liquors]

I think one might be able to conclude from this article that Charlotte's administrators are now using the media to prepare their fans for the likelihood that they'll be joining the CAA as an all-sport member.

Not to overstep and speak for the 49er fans, but I think when you rationally considered all perspectives, joining the CAA for all sports is the best decision for Charlotte, competitively/geographically/reputationally. With respect to Richmond, the CAA is really where they belong too. The A-10/14 is nothing more than a weird athletic placeholder of conference without a cohesive brand or message.

[PenthouseClosedEnd]

With respect to Richmond, the CAA is really where they belong too. The A-10/14 is nothing more than a weird athletic placeholder of conference without a cohesive brand or message.

Richmond currently plays in the football conference available to us and also plays in the best basketball conference available to us. With investments we've made and successes we've had, we're well positioned for if/when the Big East split happens for the sports besides football.

If/when the Big East split happens and we've not on the bus with Villanova and Georgetown and Xavier, etc, you are right.

[mainejeff]

With respect to Richmond, the CAA is really where they belong too. The A-10/14 is nothing more than a weird athletic placeholder of conference without a cohesive brand or message.

Richmond currently plays in the football conference available to us and also plays in the best basketball conference available to us. With investments we've made and successes we've had, we're well positioned for if/when the Big East split happens for the sports besides football.

If/when the Big East split happens and we've not on the bus with Villanova and Georgetown and Xavier, etc, you are right.

Agreed. Richmond either ends up with the Big East hoops schools.......or back in the CAA.

[Aho Old Guy]

...
If we look at the facts of what's happened so far, the fears for the future of CAA football are nothing more than speculation, and fan delusion. Schools like App State, and Montana have kept their feet firmly on the brake as they've considered FBS moves, and the CAA schools who are the focus of speculation either haven't even begun to explore the options, or (with the exception of UMass) have run into major roadblocks (Villanova). Finding an FBS home ain't easy, and when the all-sport implications are considered, the picture tends to get very murky. The shifting in FBS currently involves the power conferences picking off the better programs from lower level FBS conferences, and the bottom feeders are already adding to their rolls with schools like UMass, UTSA, Texas State, and South Alabama.

JMU has a stadium plan in place, but where would they go, and would it justify the additional investment to complete the plan? ODU may be the most attractive target, but would they trade a future as a profitable FCS program for anything less than the Big East ...

Like I have a clue about the future of the CAA but I believe Delaware is pretty much the key - and the CAA will move forward with them, or without them, in football - basketball, too.

The State of Virginia (and the 'north' Virginia states of Maryland & Delaware) are nearly saturated with FCS football, and will remain the core of the CAA. You guys got it good with a sweet, compact structure where each school is essentially a half-day drive away.

Delaware
James Madison
Old Dominion
Richmond
Towson
William & Mary

Throw the Libertines into the mix, a potential start-up at VCU, with George Mason a possibility (minus their AD, who appears to be a real stumbling block) in an untapped football hot-bed, and maybe even an HBC or two with the right enticement.

The actual outliers in football (beyond what is considered the CAA 'North' schools) become Georgia State and UNCC, and I can only surmise their addition as a TV market grab, or recruiting grounds.

I don't want to seem unkind here, but from a basketball standpoint UNCC ain't really interested in the CAA for whatever reason, and I don't have any insight as to why Hofstra and NE are still around. I understand Drexel from a BB standpoint but don't think they bring much else to the conference from a sports standpoint. UNCW brings a nice mix in sports excepting football, and Georgia State should be booted out from the CAA when they ease their football program into the Sunbelt.

So ... essentially, the CAA is the Virgina Athletic Group from south of Philly to Newport News. You've got your football stalwarts, and a nice round-ball mix that's working quite well.

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

Your $100K every 3 years is nothing compared to our $300K that we'll have to spend EVERY year to go play 4 times a year in the soggy craptastic South! Please, please, PLEASE dump us so that we can save some $$$! Don't expect UNH to stick around though........they are beleeding even MORE money than Maine.

What the hell are you talking about????? Are you making crap up? Please prove how UNH is "bleeding more money". I've seen the quotes from your AD about the $70K charters. I've seen some quotes from the UNH AD, I know we fly commercial and I can do estimates on what the flights costs. From that I can see that UNH can take three trips South for what it costs Maine to take one. That's what proximity to two airports with discount air carriers provides UNH that Maine doesn't have. Why the hell would we blow up football for a $50K increase in travel expenses when our football budget is over $3MM and IIRC our overall athletic budget is over $25MM.

I don't want to burst your bubble, but I think you're mistaken if you think UNH is going to bail on the CAA if Maine walks away. Unless there is a viable alternative with at least counter status for schollies, I think UNH remains in the CAA. Our administration and fan base is IMHO more committed to CAA Football than I perceive Maine's to be. I sure don't see the people on the UNH Forum pushing for moving to the NEC sooner rather than later like I do on the Maine forum.

And don't forget our schools have very different demographics. I don't know the exact numbers, but I'm going to guess that Maine is over 80% in-state kids. UNH is probably around 50% (our out-of-state figures are usually higher than what's officially posted) and with looming budget cuts from the NH legislature, we're destined to go well over that 50% figure. If the most drastic cuts are made, UNH would probably have to go to 70% out-of-state to balance the budget. Regardless, with so many students from MA, RI, CT,NY, NJ, PA, DE and MD, the CAA footprint is not as radical for UNH as it is Maine.

I can't link the article because it has been archived by the NH newspaper, but here's a quote from our AD:

But when it’s all said and done, Scarano believes, it all comes down to football.

“The fact is, it drives a lot of things culturally,’’ Scarano said. “A successful football program sets the tone for the entire athletic program.

“When it comes to mobilizing alumni, friends and benefactors, nothing duplicates it. Hockey doesn’t duplicate it.’’

That's a huge statement which says to me it would be suicidal to drop down to a reduced scholarship NEC. Even if Maine opts to do so. Hell, I'd make the basketball teams get $50K more in guarantee games or even drop a sport if that's what is necessary to keep football at the current level going. And frankly I don't see a full scholarship league forming in the Northeast unless there are more defections from the Patriot League. Even then it probably doesn't form unless the bigger CAA schools move up/reorganize and the CAA "happy with FCS division" forms (for example, W&M, Richmond, Towson, Delaware, Stony Brook, Fordham, Colgate, Albany, UNH, Maine) unless you've figured out how to get America East to sponsor it. Stony Brook isn't joining anything unless its full scholly. I doubt they'd be interested in something at counter to full level with Monmouth, CCSU, Albany, UNH, Maine, Fordham and whoever else to form a viable nine member league. I have no faith that URI would come back to even counter level for that. The Patriot shows no sign of lowing their AI to make it feasible for Maine and UNH. Still looks like the only alternative to play full scholly FCS Football and compete for the national championship is the CAA. I hope Maine stays committed to that.

[mainejeff]

Your $100K every 3 years is nothing compared to our $300K that we'll have to spend EVERY year to go play 4 times a year in the soggy craptastic South! Please, please, PLEASE dump us so that we can save some $$$! Don't expect UNH to stick around though........they are beleeding even MORE money than Maine.

What the hell are you talking about????? Are you making crap up? Please prove how UNH is "bleeding more money".

I'm talking about UNH's higher coaching salaries, bigger support staff, more expensive athletic scholarships........all without much private money or state funding.........THAT is what I am talking about, Mr. Rose-Colored Glasses!

I've seen the quotes from your AD about the $70K charters. I've seen some quotes from the UNH AD, I know we fly commercial and I can do estimates on what the flights costs. From that I can see that UNH can take three trips South for what it costs Maine to take one.

Yeah......right. UNH has similar flight costs no matter how you try and paint it.

That's what proximity to two airports with discount air carriers provides UNH that Maine doesn't have. Why the hell would we blow up football for a $50K increase in travel expenses when our football budget is over $3MM and IIRC our overall athletic budget is over $25MM.

Maine has something called the Portland Jetport (ever heard of it?) with a little low cost carrier called Air Tran.......non-stop direct flights to Atlanta for $99. Of course that could all change a bit when Air Tran becomes Southwest this fall and then Portland may be home to many flights that Manchester now has. If they prefer to use their charters though.......it's a nice 10 minute ride down I-95 to board the plane.

I don't want to burst your bubble, but I think you're mistaken if you think UNH is going to bail on the CAA if Maine walks away. Unless there is a viable alternative with at least counter status for schollies, I think UNH remains in the CAA. Our administration and fan base is IMHO more committed to CAA Football than I perceive Maine's to be. I sure don't see the people on the UNH Forum pushing for moving to the NEC sooner rather than later like I do on the Maine forum.

You ARE delusional.......seriously. UNH is NOT going to stay in a league with Newark, DE being their closest opponent.......period. And this "commitment" that you speak of........how much money has been raised by your AD for your football program after 7 STRAIGHT NCAA appearances???? I know that your attendance is higher than Maine's (it better be after all of your recent success!!!), but it wasn't long ago, when UNH had started to slip into the 5K-8K type crowds. I just hope that your AD can strike while the "iron is hot" so to speak.

And don't forget our schools have very different demographics. I don't know the exact numbers, but I'm going to guess that Maine is over 80% in-state kids. UNH is probably around 50% (our out-of-state figures are usually higher than what's officially posted) and with looming budget cuts from the NH legislature, we're destined to go well over that 50% figure. If the most drastic cuts are made, UNH would probably have to go to 70% out-of-state to balance the budget. Regardless, with so many students from MA, RI, CT,NY, NJ, PA, DE and MD, the CAA footprint is not as radical for UNH as it is Maine.

Please........you make it sound like CAA football conference affiliation is the make-or-break for out-of-state students. You better start recruiting from the South, because anyone from NJ North won't even know who in heck the CAA is! And again......thank-you for bringing up the tuition thing. It HAS to be a HUGE expense for UNH with that sky high out-of-state tuition. Maybe that is why your athletic budget is $25 million (and you don't even have baseball or softball ).

I can't link the article because it has been archived by the NH newspaper, but here's a quote from our AD:

But when it’s all said and done, Scarano believes, it all comes down to football.

“The fact is, it drives a lot of things culturally,’’ Scarano said. “A successful football program sets the tone for the entire athletic program.

“When it comes to mobilizing alumni, friends and benefactors, nothing duplicates it. Hockey doesn’t duplicate it.’’

Maybe at UNH it doesn't, but at Maine it does. Why hasn't Scarano been able to "mobilize" alumni, friends, and benefactors after 7 STRAIGHT NCAA APPEARANCES then???? Other than winning a National Championship, it doesn't get any better than that.

That's a huge statement which says to me it would be suicidal to drop down to a reduced scholarship NEC. Even if Maine opts to do so. Hell, I'd make the basketball teams get $50K more in guarantee games or even drop a sport if that's what is necessary to keep football at the current level going. And frankly I don't see a full scholarship league forming in the Northeast unless there are more defections from the Patriot League. Even then it probably doesn't form unless the bigger CAA schools move up/reorganize and the CAA "happy with FCS division" forms (for example, W&M, Richmond, Towson, Delaware, Stony Brook, Fordham, Colgate, Albany, UNH, Maine) unless you've figured out how to get America East to sponsor it. Stony Brook isn't joining anything unless its full scholly. I doubt they'd be interested in something at counter to full level with Monmouth, CCSU, Albany, UNH, Maine, Fordham and whoever else to form a viable nine member league. I have no faith that URI would come back to even counter level for that. The Patriot shows no sign of lowing their AI to make it feasible for Maine and UNH. Still looks like the only alternative to play full scholly FCS Football and compete for the national championship is the CAA. I hope Maine stays committed to that.

I hope that they do too. The $5 million from New Balance, as well as more money from the Alfond Foundation, the Collins Family, and the Mahaney Family hopefully will be enough to sustain Maine during these tough times. I know that the basketball program has done very well recently scheduling guarantee games. UNH basketball could definitely do better for their AD in that regard.

[Blue Hen Fanatic]

I'm surprised that maine feels comfortable being in the CAA considering that Hofstra and Northeastern no longer have football and now URI is leaving for another conference.

CAA Football used to be Atlantic 10 Football, which used to be the Yankee Conference. The South has risen again and taken over the Yankee Conference

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

For readability I deleted the original comments. They can be viewed by looking back a couple of posts.

I'm talking about UNH's higher coaching salaries, bigger support staff, more expensive athletic scholarships........all without much private money or state funding.........THAT is what I am talking about, Mr. Rose-Colored Glasses!

Do you really think that salaries and size of the support staff are significantly larger at UNH than Maine? I don’t. And in relation to the other CAA Football schools, I’m pretty confident saying that UNH is on the low end of the spectrum in both categories. No question, UNH has a high out-of-state tuition. But when I look at the UMaine web site, I find the out-of-state tuition is $803 per credit hour. Assuming a 15 credit course load per semester, making the annual tuition is $24,090. According to the UNH web site, the out-of-state tuition is $25,380. Obviously greater, but certainly not as significant as you’re insinuating.

Yeah......right. UNH has similar flight costs no matter how you try and paint it.

What part of UNH takes commercial flights on discount carriers didn’t you comprehend? If Maine is taking the $70K charters that your AD mentioned in the linked article, then indeed UNH gets close to three round trip flights for that same amount. We fly on Southwest, AirTran and Jet Blue to Philly, BWI, Richmond and Newport News. I’ll make a high estimate of $250 per ticket and another high estimate of 100 in the travel party for easier math. That’s $25K a trip compared to the $70K per trip charter for Maine.

Maine has something called the Portland Jetport (ever heard of it?) with a little low cost carrier called Air Tran.......non-stop direct flights to Atlanta for $99. Of course that could all change a bit when Air Tran becomes Southwest this fall and then Portland may be home to many flights that Manchester now has. If they prefer to use their charters though.......it's a nice 10 minute ride down I-95 to board the plane.

Yes indeed, I’ve heard of the Portland Jetport. Glad to hear you have a low cost option to Atlanta so you don’t really have a complaint about going to Georgia State. I guess the germane question is if Maine has the same low cost option to get to all the CAA South locales, then why aren’t they using them? UNH could travel less than ten miles to Pease and take charters too, but they opt for the lower cost commercial options out of Manchester and Boston. Maine has every right to choose charters, but if you have lower cost options on commercial flights then to me it seems a bit hypocritical to then complain about higher costs due to more trips.

You ARE delusional.......seriously. UNH is NOT going to stay in a league with Newark, DE being their closest opponent.......period. And this "commitment" that you speak of........how much money has been raised by your AD for your football program after 7 STRAIGHT NCAA appearances???? I know that your attendance is higher than Maine's (it better be after all of your recent success!!!), but it wasn't long ago, when UNH had started to slip into the 5K-8K type crowds. I just hope that your AD can strike while the "iron is hot" so to speak.

I’m delusional about staying in the CAA without Maine, really? You seem to know all the intimate details about UNH so I’m sure you’re aware of our women’s gymnastics program which plays in the E.A.G. League. The closest member is Rutgers and also includes Maryland, George Washington, North Carolina, NC State, West Virginia and Pittsburgh. I’d say that footprint is just as expansive as CAA Football. They compete in this league in order to have a high level of competition. And do so without another America East, Hockey East or CAA school. BTW, this program has made the NCAA Tournament 29 times in the past 32 years and during the past four seasons has traveled to OOC matches in Arizona, Missouri, Michigan, Texas, California, Minnesota and Utah. If UNH is willing to put their gymnastics program in a league based on the competition level rather than geographic proximity of the league members and travel that far for OOC matches, then why the heck wouldn’t they do the same for football which is significantly more important to the Athletic Department? And seriously, UNH is already committed to playing in CAA Football with only one other member north of Newark, DE. Once we do that, would it really be that different to be in a league without Maine? If the goal is to play at the highest level of FCS with full scholarships, then the CAA is the only option unless something else viable happens. And I’d stand by my opinion that I think it would be stupid to blow up football over a small, in the grand scheme of things, increase in travel expenses. And just as stupid to blow it up if Maine doesn’t want to continue playing in the CAA.

Please........you make it sound like CAA football conference affiliation is the make-or-break for out-of-state students. You better start recruiting from the South, because anyone from NJ North won't even know who in heck the CAA is! And again......thank-you for bringing up the tuition thing. It HAS to be a HUGE expense for UNH with that sky high out-of-state tuition. Maybe that is why your athletic budget is $25 million (and you don't even have baseball or softball ).

I never said any such thing, that’s you putting your spin on to it. My comment was simply only saying that with a 50-70% student body from MA to MD, that being in the CAA was easier to accept than if the student body was over 80% in-state. You can't grasp the fact that these students reside in the CAA footprint has some familiarity factor with it, not talking about any thing as strong as "make or break"! And as usual you refuse to accept how well known the CAA name has become. Besides the football success (national champions and runner-ups, playoff bids, quarterfinal and semi-final appearances, FBS wins, etc.), you can’t seriously think that the GMU and VCU Final Four runs haven’t significantly increased the country’s awareness of the CAA! Even going beyond that, if you look at our roster you’ll see that NJ and PA are the states with the most players, especially scholarship players. NY and MA are the next two. We also have five from MD where Maine has also been recruiting lately. FWIW, UNH also has kids from VA, SC, FL and Alabama on the upcoming season roster. As to the $25MM, when I look at our respective web sites I see that Maine sponsors 15 sports and UNH sponsors 18 sports. And for the past few years UNH has consistently been #1 or #2 in America East and in the top three of CAA schools in the NCAA Director’s Cup. What’s with making a big deal out of baseball and softball? I know I’ve read at least one post by you in the past couple of weeks stating that Maine should drop baseball.

Maybe at UNH it doesn't, but at Maine it does. Why hasn't Scarano been able to "mobilize" alumni, friends, and benefactors after 7 STRAIGHT NCAA APPEARANCES then???? Other than winning a National Championship, it doesn't get any better than that.

Does that give you a clue then at how important football is at UNH? As for revenue, I don’t know the details of how much donations have increased during the past seven years so I respectfully doubt that you do either. I’ve heard they’ve increased, I’ve heard more scholarships are funded, maybe, just maybe, UNH just doesn’t announce everything that has occurred. I doubt things are as dire as you insinuate because I’ve never heard or read any feedback out of UNH other than being committed to the CAA. They acknowledge an increase in travel costs and they’ve secured many regional OOC games in the next five seasons to maintain some rivalries and not endure high travel costs for the OOC games. Without a doubt attendance has increased, Homecoming involvement has skyrocketed to the point that new traffic flows had to be developed for access to Cowell Stadium. Seriously, there must have been enough mobilizing to keep CAA Football feasible for UNH. And actually, making some semi-final and championship game appearances are better than just making the NCAA Playoffs. There are other levels of success to be achieved outside winning the whole enchilada. (Don't worry, I know you're trying to slam UNH for not winning a National Championship.)

I hope that they do too. The $5 million from New Balance, as well as more money from the Alfond Foundation, the Collins Family, and the Mahaney Family hopefully will be enough to sustain Maine during these tough times. I know that the basketball program has done very well recently scheduling guarantee games. UNH basketball could definitely do better for their AD in that regard.

If Maine is so flush with all that financial backing, then why is your AD talking about travel costs possibly causing Maine to drop out of the CAA? Why are so many people on the Maine Forum calling for Maine to drop to the NEC? As for basketball, our program has done as much as the AD has asked of them. And like Maine we’ve played Maryland, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Boston College, Rhode Island (three times) and UConn in the past four seasons. If our AD wants them to play more guarantee games, that’s his concern not yours.

BTW, I'm going to have very little computer time in the next few days so don't expect a timely response to your next reply. Besides, I can see that we're already at an agree to disagree status and this discussion will only downgrade from here. I've got better things to do with my time.

[∞∞∞]

I keep forgetting Maine is in the CAA, even though our coach hails from there.

[ODUalum11]

I keep forgetting Maine is in the CAA, even though our coach hails from there.

several of our coaches hail from there...obviously wilder but then Zyskowski (running backs coach), Whitcomb (QB's coach), our offensive line coach/offensive coordinator who's name I can't think of at the moment, and then Rondeau (defensive coordinator, linebackers coach).

[mainejeff]

Do you really think that salaries and size of the support staff are significantly larger at UNH than Maine? I don’t. And in relation to the other CAA Football schools, I’m pretty confident saying that UNH is on the low end of the spectrum in both categories. No question, UNH has a high out-of-state tuition. But when I look at the UMaine web site, I find the out-of-state tuition is $803 per credit hour. Assuming a 15 credit course load per semester, making the annual tuition is $24,090. According to the UNH web site, the out-of-state tuition is $25,380. Obviously greater, but certainly not as significant as you’re insinuating.

UNH spends almost $400K more on their football program than Maine does. And despite your seemingly comparable tuition rates (according to you) and some swell deals on commercial airlines........UNH bleeds $957K on their football program compared to Maine's $37K. THAT is a problem for UNH if they wish to remain in a league that is getting more expensive to do business in. It also demonstrates the problem that Scarano has been having raising funds during a period what should have been a "Golden Era" ($$$) of UNH Football.

http://www2.indystar.com/NCAA_financial ... hool_id=19" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www2.indystar.com/NCAA_financial ... ool_id=109" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What part of UNH takes commercial flights on discount carriers didn’t you comprehend? If Maine is taking the $70K charters that your AD mentioned in the linked article, then indeed UNH gets close to three round trip flights for that same amount. We fly on Southwest, AirTran and Jet Blue to Philly, BWI, Richmond and Newport News. I’ll make a high estimate of $250 per ticket and another high estimate of 100 in the travel party for easier math. That’s $25K a trip compared to the $70K per trip charter for Maine.

I understand completely, Mr. Fancy Pants. I'm sure that Maine will explore avenues to lower their travel costs as they have those same airlines and flights available to them as well. You act as if UNH has cornered the market on "low cost carriers". Pssst.......by the way.......they aren't such "low cost" anymore.

Yes indeed, I’ve heard of the Portland Jetport. Glad to hear you have a low cost option to Atlanta so you don’t really have a complaint about going to Georgia State. I guess the germane question is if Maine has the same low cost option to get to all the CAA South locales, then why aren’t they using them? UNH could travel less than ten miles to Pease and take charters too, but they opt for the lower cost commercial options out of Manchester and Boston. Maine has every right to choose charters, but if you have lower cost options on commercial flights then to me it seems a bit hypocritical to then complain about higher costs due to more trips.

You're missing the main point........BUS TRIPS ARE CHEAPER THAN FLIGHTS ANYWAY THAT YOU SLICE IT. Both UNH and Maine will no longer be using buses other than to each other, every other year. Comprendez vous?

I’m delusional about staying in the CAA without Maine, really?

Yes, you are.

You seem to know all the intimate details about UNH so I’m sure you’re aware of our women’s gymnastics program which plays in the E.A.G. League. The closest member is Rutgers and also includes Maryland, George Washington, North Carolina, NC State, West Virginia and Pittsburgh. I’d say that footprint is just as expansive as CAA Football. They compete in this league in order to have a high level of competition. And do so without another America East, Hockey East or CAA school. BTW, this program has made the NCAA Tournament 29 times in the past 32 years and during the past four seasons has traveled to OOC matches in Arizona, Missouri, Michigan, Texas, California, Minnesota and Utah. If UNH is willing to put their gymnastics program in a league based on the competition level rather than geographic proximity of the league members and travel that far for OOC matches, then why the heck wouldn’t they do the same for football which is significantly more important to the Athletic Department? And seriously, UNH is already committed to playing in CAA Football with only one other member north of Newark, DE. Once we do that, would it really be that different to be in a league without Maine? If the goal is to play at the highest level of FCS with full scholarships, then the CAA is the only option unless something else viable happens. And I’d stand by my opinion that I think it would be stupid to blow up football over a small, in the grand scheme of things, increase in travel expenses. And just as stupid to blow it up if Maine doesn’t want to continue playing in the CAA.

Sorry......you lost me on the word "gymnastics"........

I never said any such thing, that’s you putting your spin on to it. My comment was simply only saying that with a 50-70% student body from MA to MD, that being in the CAA was easier to accept than if the student body was over 80% in-state. You can't grasp the fact that these students reside in the CAA footprint has some familiarity factor with it, not talking about any thing as strong as "make or break"!

Yeah.......you should be familiar with "spin".

And as usual you refuse to accept how well known the CAA name has become.

Besides the football success (national champions and runner-ups, playoff bids, quarterfinal and semi-final appearances, FBS wins, etc.), you can’t seriously think that the GMU and VCU Final Four runs haven’t significantly increased the country’s awareness of the CAA!

Good god......you really HAVE been brainwashed! I could give a crap about CAA hoops as it relates to CAA football. I don't think that GMU and VCU hoops have done ANYTHING for CAA football.

Even going beyond that, if you look at our roster you’ll see that NJ and PA are the states with the most players, especially scholarship players. NY and MA are the next two. We also have five from MD where Maine has also been recruiting lately. FWIW, UNH also has kids from VA, SC, FL and Alabama on the upcoming season roster. As to the $25MM, when I look at our respective web sites I see that Maine sponsors 15 sports and UNH sponsors 18 sports. And for the past few years UNH has consistently been #1 or #2 in America East and in the top three of CAA schools in the NCAA Director’s Cup. What’s with making a big deal out of baseball and softball? I know I’ve read at least one post by you in the past couple of weeks stating that Maine should drop baseball.

If they remain in America East, then they should absolutely drop baseball and softball since very few other league schools, especially in New England are still sponsoring those sports. Not sure how UNH spends $10 million more on 3 additional sports (including gymnastics?)......but hey, whatever floats their boat!

Does that give you a clue then at how important football is at UNH?

Yeah, it does. Important to the administration.......not so important to alumni, donors, and corporate sponsors.

As for revenue, I don’t know the details of how much donations have increased during the past seven years so I respectfully doubt that you do either. I’ve heard they’ve increased, I’ve heard more scholarships are funded, maybe, just maybe, UNH just doesn’t announce everything that has occurred. I doubt things are as dire as you insinuate because I’ve never heard or read any feedback out of UNH other than being committed to the CAA. They acknowledge an increase in travel costs and they’ve secured many regional OOC games in the next five seasons to maintain some rivalries and not endure high travel costs for the OOC games. Without a doubt attendance has increased, Homecoming involvement has skyrocketed to the point that new traffic flows had to be developed for access to Cowell Stadium. Seriously, there must have been enough mobilizing to keep CAA Football feasible for UNH. And actually, making some semi-final and championship game appearances are better than just making the NCAA Playoffs. There are other levels of success to be achieved outside winning the whole enchilada. (Don't worry, I know you're trying to slam UNH for not winning a National Championship.)

Yes, I've "heard" lots of things too. Good luck to UNH and their quest to "hang" with the CAA South!

If Maine is so flush with all that financial backing, then why is your AD talking about travel costs possibly causing Maine to drop out of the CAA? Why are so many people on the Maine Forum calling for Maine to drop to the NEC? As for basketball, our program has done as much as the AD has asked of them. And like Maine we’ve played Maryland, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Boston College, Rhode Island (three times) and UConn in the past four seasons. If our AD wants them to play more guarantee games, that’s his concern not yours.

Let's get one thing straight.......Maine will never be "flush" with cash. I didn't know that Abbott was talking about "dropping out of the CAA", but hey........whatever you say. The "so many people" on the Maine forum calling for a move to the NEC includes 1 person that is very vocal and likes to stir the pot (besides myself )

The link that I provided earlier shows that Maine generated $150K from guarantee basketball games where as UNH only generated $90K from similar games. There is no doubt that UNH can improve in that regard. Afterall, that $60K difference would more than pay for 2 CAA football away games according to your accounting.

BTW, I'm going to have very little computer time in the next few days so don't expect a timely response to your next reply. Besides, I can see that we're already at an agree to disagree status and this discussion will only downgrade from here. I've got better things to do with my time.

Good for you! Enjoy your summer!

[State Line Liquors]

I keep forgetting Maine is in the CAA, even though our coach hails from there.

Right. And secondly, did I see correctly that Maine actually has a message board where people discuss UMaine athletics?

I need to see that website! It has to have at least 14 threads where MaineJeff is talking to himself about whatever it is that Maine fans like to talk about....the number of times he LOLs and CoffeeCup Emoticons himself has to be absolutely through the ceiling.

[mainejeff]

I keep forgetting Maine is in the CAA, even though our coach hails from there.

Right. And secondly, did I see correctly that Maine actually has a message board where people discuss UMaine athletics?

I need to see that website! It has to have at least 14 threads where MaineJeff is talking to himself about whatever it is that Maine fans like to talk about....the number of times he LOLs and CoffeeCup Emoticons himself has to be absolutely through the ceiling.

.......you are obsessed with me.

[State Line Liquors]

.......you are obsessed with me.

Just because it's so difficult for me to get the smell of your mom's dentures off my balls.


What's the url for the Maine message board?

[PenthouseClosedEnd]

What's the url for the Maine message board?

+1

[mainejeff]

.......you are obsessed with me.

Just because it's so difficult for me to get the smell of your mom's dentures off my balls.


What's the url for the Maine message board?

Never heard that one before, junior.........

[dunbar]

What's the url for the Maine message board?

http://www.mbr.org/phpBB3/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=77

CAA Meeting Thread-
http://www.mbr.org/phpBB3/phpBB3/viewto ... 77&t=26208

[ODUalum11]

question for Maine fans, what are your thoughts on Bobby Wilder and several of the coaches that used to be at Maine but are now at ODU?

I believe Rondeau (LB coach, DC), Zyskowski (RB coach), Whitcomb (QB coach), Morrison (OL coach, OC) all either played or coached at Maine....

[State Line Liquors]

What's the url for the Maine message board?

http://www.mbr.org/phpBB3/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=77

CAA Meeting Thread-
http://www.mbr.org/phpBB3/phpBB3/viewto ... 77&t=26208

kudos dunbar. See you over there some time.

[dunbar]

question for Maine fans, what are your thoughts on Bobby Wilder and several of the coaches that used to be at Maine but are now at ODU?

I believe Rondeau (LB coach, DC), Zyskowski (RB coach), Whitcomb (QB coach), Morrison (OL coach, OC) all either played or coached at Maine....

It just shows how loyal these guys were to Bobby rather than Cozzy. I'm not surprised, just shows how fortunate ODU is to have Wilder and how unfortunate we are to still have Cosgrove.

[ODUalum11]

question for Maine fans, what are your thoughts on Bobby Wilder and several of the coaches that used to be at Maine but are now at ODU?

I believe Rondeau (LB coach, DC), Zyskowski (RB coach), Whitcomb (QB coach), Morrison (OL coach, OC) all either played or coached at Maine....

It just shows how loyal these guys were to Bobby rather than Cozzy. I'm not surprised, just shows how fortunate ODU is to have Wilder and how unfortunate we are to still have Cosgrove.

ODU is very fortunate to have Wilder as head coach. He is really loved around the ODU community and is one of my favorite coaches at ODU. He really represents the program very well. I'm sure he is looking forward to an ODU-Maine match-up. We also hope he stays at ODU forever and never leaves.

[GannonFan]

It just shows how loyal these guys were to Bobby rather than Cozzy. I'm not surprised, just shows how fortunate ODU is to have Wilder and how unfortunate we are to still have Cosgrove.

ODU is very fortunate to have Wilder as head coach. He is really loved around the ODU community and is one of my favorite coaches at ODU. He really represents the program very well. I'm sure he is looking forward to an ODU-Maine match-up. We also hope he stays at ODU forever and never leaves.

That's the view with him being 0-0 in official CAA games. How ODU fares over the next 2-3 years will determine if that view changes at all.

[State Line Liquors]

ODU is very fortunate to have Wilder as head coach. He is really loved around the ODU community and is one of my favorite coaches at ODU. He really represents the program very well. I'm sure he is looking forward to an ODU-Maine match-up. We also hope he stays at ODU forever and never leaves.

Before you go making him breakfast in bed tomorrow morning, it's best you see how he really is between the sheets first.

We've all loved our coaches at one point or another, but also been disappointed by them too. Mickie and KC can attest to that.

[ODUalum11]

true you guys made some good points but it includes more than just what he's done on the field. It's included what he's done off the field as well.